Forum Discussion

Zquill's avatar
Zquill
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014

Big freshwater tank for boondocking?

I'd like the opinion of some experienced boondockers on tank freshwater tank size. I'm usually at full hookups but do several weeklong stays without amenities throughout the year in my fleetwood 180ck. I'm looking to upsize to something in the 24-30ft range, but finding that many larger campers have smaller tanks than my current tank(50 gal).

what is the best midsize camper on the market with a larger freshwater tank?

what's the minimum size tank you'd reccomend for a weeklong stay (2 couples)?

Thanks
  • Jayco's JayFlight line offers 80+ gallon FW holding tanks. The FW tank is one thing, grey/black tank capacity is something all together different. My JayFlight has 38 gal grey & black holding tanks (published specs are 32 gal, but a visual inspection clearly showed 38 gal) which for black will last a week for our family of 5 but the grey needs to be dumped every couple nights.
  • The camper's tank size is less important than your ability to refill it.

    You can always figure a way to carry water in your truck, to the trailer, and use either muscle or pump power to refill it. That's what I rely on because I'm not into uber-conservation.

    I'm certainly not the fairer sex, but I do like a nice shower.
  • Ok. DW here and I too like my showers but, when we boondock, we take a 5 min shower (Navy style and we catch the water in a bucket while we wait for the hot to come through) every 3rd day, with body wipes in between and dry shampoo. It can be done. We use other water saver techniques too to prolong the tank. With just two of us, we can easily go a week or longer, so for the last night, we take a little longer hot shower for the trip home. If your women absolutely insist on a shower every day, you'll have to get a water tote and refill along with dumping your gray tank into the fire ring away from any streams (if you are using non-bio soap).
  • Travel Trailer. sorry 2oldman. I'm new to the site and don't really know all the info i need to provide to get good answers.
  • If I had to move this post I wouldn't know whether OP is talking about a TT or a 5er.
  • Most of my extended stays are fishing trips. My buddy and i have no problem with a quick duck bath in the river, but the fairer sex prefer their hot showers. I'm searching for a camper that will allow extended stays while keeping the ladies happy.
  • HI,

    My 1997 Bounder 30E came with a 100 gallon fresh water tank. I love it, and could stay 2-3 weeks by myself, shower daily, and then dump the water into some nearby thirsty plants. It comes with a 59 gallon black tank, it can last a month or so.

    You can always look for a unit that has the ability to install a second water tank under the couch or someplace? Tank-Depot.com

    The problem with a larger tank is cargo rating. Now that manufactures are required to display the cargo rating with full water tanks, then they install much smaller tanks, so that the cargo rating looks higher.

    If I stayed more than 10 days in one location, sometimes I would take along a pair of 7.5 gallon blue water totes. I could fill those while out sightseeing, then bring them back, hang them from the roof ladder with a motorcycle tie down, then use a syphon to fill the fresh water tank.

    I was also thinking about getting a 30 - 40 gallon fresh water tank to put in my car or truck for use if I started full timing in a RV. With a pump to refill the RV main tank.

    I did see a Cyclone toyhauler RV. It was not small, 3 axles with a optional 36 gallon gas tank, pair of 100 gallon fresh water tanks. That is the largest capacity water system that I ever heard of. The gray tank is only about 75 gallons, yet if parked out in the desert, and not in a campground, it is practical to dig a 2' deep hole, drain the gray water, and then bury it so no flies are attracted to it.

    Good luck!

    Fred.
  • Hard to say without knowing more about your lifestyle. How often do you want to be able to shower, for how long each time, etc?

    4 people taking a 10 minute shower each every night the water is going to go quick. If you take a quick 5 minute shower every couple of days and just use a washcloth and bucket the rest of the time, the water will last a lot longer.

    It's often easier to reduce consumption than it is to increase capacity.